Correctional Officer

Summary

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, District 1-Standing Rock Detention in Belcourt, North Dakota; Fort Totten, North Dakota; Fort Yates, North Dakota; Lower Brule, South Dakota; Wagner, South Dakota.

This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see USA Jobs What are bargaining units?

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Maybe Authorized

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Duties

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As Correctional Officer, GL-0007, your typical work assignments may include, but not limited to:

Duties listed are at the full performance level at the GS-08. If selected at the lower level, you will have the opportunity to learn to

perform these duties and receive training to develop in the position.

• The position is demanding because the safety and security of the facility, staff and offender (including the offender care and control) are directly dependent on the officer's skills in the following areas: 1) booking and release procedures; 2) inmate behavior management; 3) leadership; 4) crisis prevention and intervention; 5) inmate health care and medication; 6) demonstration or fairness in all dealings with offenders through policy and procedures; 7) observation and supervision of inmates; 8) service referrals for programs and services; 9) documentation, logs and reports on inmate incident and management; and, 10) Transportation of inmates to court, medical, and other facilities.
• Enforces standard rules and regulations provided in Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 69 Bureau of Indian Affairs Manual (BIAM), Department of the Interior (DOI), Departmental Manual (OM) 446, governing the operations of the detention facilities and programs, and the confinement, safety, health, and protection of criminal offenders.
• Provides preliminary Interviews for physical and mental health with classification assessments.
• Upon admission provides criminal offenders with an orientation into the facility's rules and operating procedures through the Inmate Handbook.
• Coordinates, and supervises offender services, activities, and programs, (i.e., access to medical care, courts, mail, recreating, library, work programs, religious, food, laundry, and counseling services).
• Observe and supervise offender movement, conduct welfare checks and physical counts of inmates, maintains discipline and prevents the introduction of contraband in the facility and completes proper documentation.
• Instructs offenders in housekeeping, sanitation and in the proper use and care of tools and equipment used in sanitation and in the proper use and care of tools and equipment used in performing unskilled or semi-skilled work Inside or outside of the facility.
• Manages inmate behavior of offenders in need of supervision. This includes utilizing effective verbal interpersonal communication skills and proper documentation. Will make proper referrals to appropriate resources.
• Transports to court, medical and other facilities. Provides close supervision of the offender throughout the transport.
• Implements all safety aspects of facility emergency management plans to include fire and emergency evacuations.
• Provides for vehicle safety and security by providing defined offender supervision, searches, transportation, classification, and counts, along with maintaining fire safety, key control, perimeter security, and compliance with offender rules.
• Ensures that offenders are released from the facility according to established regulations and operational descriptions.
• Completes facility observation on maintenance that is needed by reporting and documenting to the supervisor that a repair is needed.
• As a correctional officer, accepts custody of Indian Country offenders from various law enforcement entities ensuring that document packages include valid criminal charges or proper release documents. While in custody of the program, officer is responsible for safeguarding of the offender and their personal belongings. If determined necessary, will escort the offender to appointments such as with the doctor, dentist, or medical clinics; or to Tribal, county, state and Federal detention institutions or other facilities when the need arises.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated
• A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
• Selectee is required to operate a government motor vehicle, must possess a valid driver's license, and have a safe driving record within the 4 year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607.
• Selectees must pass a pre-employment medical examination and may be subject to post-employment medical examinations to determine if they are maintaining the fitness standards for this position.
• Drug Testing. This position is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
• This position has been approved for Primary Law Enforcement Coverage.
• You must successfully complete mandatory basic / advanced training as a condition of employment. Annual training is required to maintain qualifications in accordance with BIA OJS standards and policies.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards

Minimum Qualification GL-05: To qualify at the GL-05 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

General Work Experience: Three years of general work experience. OR

Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, at an accredited college or university. OR

A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification GL-06: To qualify at the GL-06 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience to the GS/GL-05 grade level assisting with the supervision and care of criminal offenders at a correctional and/or detention facility. Experience at this level may include assisting with OR

performing tasks such as control room, booking, intake, inmate transport, maintaining documentation on inmates, controlled movements and supervision of inmates, in accordance with policies and procedures. OR

Minimum Qualification GL-07: To qualify at the GL-07 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

Specialized Experience: One year of experience at or equivalent to the GS/GL-06 grade level independently providing supervision and care to criminal offenders at a correctional and/or detention facility; maintaining documentation on inmates, controlled movements and supervision of inmates; and experience with Standard Operating Procedures and Emergency Management Plans. Experience at this level may include independently enforcing rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct; performing inmate transport; OR

Education: One full academic year of graduate education with major study in criminal justice, social science, or other field related to the position.

Maximum Entry Age Limit: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:

Additional information

All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2026 Salary Tables and select the pay chart for Belcourt, North Dakota; Fort Totten, North Dakota; Fort Yates, North Dakota; Lower Brule, South Dakota; Wagner, South Dakota. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the "rest of U.S." chart.

The full performance level of this position is GL-8. Promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed.

The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your [probationary period -OR- trial period] your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For additional information, please visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.